About St. Mary. Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. · Elmira, New York
Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus is a multi-site Roman Catholic parish that serves all of the City of Elmira in Chemung County, New York, and belongs to the Diocese of Rochester. Formed in 2018 from the merger of the city's three parishes, it is now centered on two active worship sites: St. Mary's Church on Elmira's Southside and St. Patrick's Church on the Northside. The parish also operates a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, a Faith Formation Center, and a Food Pantry, and is led by Pastor Rev. Scott Kubinski with a staff of clergy, deacons, and lay ministers.
- Established
- 2018
- Patron
- Most Holy Name of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Scott Kubinski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
Most Holy Name of Jesus is the consolidated Roman Catholic home for everyone in the City of Elmira, offering daily and weekend Mass at two historic churches (St. Mary's Southside and St. Patrick's Northside), a year-round Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, and a full sacramental life from infant Baptism through OCIA, Confirmation, and Marriage. The parish runs an active faith-formation program for children and adults, a Scripture Study series, a Men's League, a Social Ministry that feeds the hungry through a Food Pantry, Community Kitchen support, and Christmas Baskets, plus a Card Ministry that reaches more than 175 homebound and care-facility parishioners. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, returning to the faith, or new to the area, the parish describes itself as 'a community of faith, rooted in Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit, to give glory and honor to Almighty God through our worship, service and loving welcome to all.'
Mass times at St. Mary. Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45 – 3:45 PM at St. Mary's Church (consult bulletin for any changes or additional times)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel, 1012 Davis St., Elmira — daily 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (open to drop-in visits; regular weekly-hour adorers and substitutes also serve)
Our Story
Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus was formed in 2018 by combining the three Roman Catholic parishes of the City of Elmira — bringing together more than 170 years of Catholic life in Chemung County under a single pastor, staff, and finance council. The decision was driven chiefly by the retirement of longtime pastor Fr. John DeSocio and a shortage of available priests. The parish is led today by Fr. Scott Kubinski, its first pastor.
- 2018: Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish formally created from three Elmira parishes
- 2017–2018: Fr. John DeSocio's retirement helps catalyze the merger
- Fr. Scott Kubinski appointed as first pastor of the new parish
The Southside — St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's is the Southside worship site, the fourth Catholic parish founded in Elmira. The Rev. James McManus was appointed its first pastor on February 19, 1872; a larger brick church was built in 1875 at 224 Franklin Street, and that building still serves the parish today. Its parish school opened in 1898 and continues as Holy Family, a regional Catholic elementary school.
- Founded 1872; fourth Catholic parish in Elmira
- First pastor: Rev. James McManus (1872 – April 1880)
- Current brick church built 1875 at 224 Franklin St., Elmira, NY 14904
- Parish school opened 1898 — now Holy Family regional school
The Northside — St. Patrick's Church
St. Patrick's serves the Northside of Elmira. The parish was organized in 1868 by the Rev. T.R. Hopkins and, after his early death, entrusted to the Rev. J.J. Bloomer, who built the brick church dedicated September 13, 1874. It hosts one of the two weekend Sunday Masses (7:30 AM and 10:30 AM) and a daily 8:00 AM Mass Monday through Friday.
- Parish organized 1868 by Rev. T.R. Hopkins
- Rev. J.J. Bloomer completed the permanent brick church, dedicated Sept. 13, 1874
- Address: 604 Park Place, Elmira, NY 14901
- Hosts daily 8 AM Mass and two Sunday Masses
The Merged Heritage — Ss. Peter and Paul, St. John the Baptist, St. Casimir, Our Lady of Lourdes
When Most Holy Name of Jesus was created in 2018 it absorbed Ss. Peter and Paul (Elmira's oldest parish, dating to the 1840s, with a church built in 1857), St. John the Baptist (organized by the German Catholic community in 1866; church at Lake and Second Streets consecrated 1892), St. Casimir, and Our Lady of Lourdes (founded 1940, church 1941). On Nov. 13–14, 2021, Fr. Scott Kubinski announced that Bishop Salvatore R. Matano had issued a decree of relegation for Ss. Peter and Paul and Our Lady of Lourdes, formally removing both from use for Catholic worship. The former Ss. Peter and Paul parish center continues to house the Catholic Charities Elmira Community Kitchen, and its former rectory houses Chemung County Habitat for Humanity.
- Ss. Peter and Paul — Elmira's first Catholic parish, organized in the 1840s; current church erected 1857
- St. John the Baptist — German Catholic parish, 1866; church consecrated 1892; closed 1998
- St. Casimir — site of the original adoration chapel (1992) and of the Faith Formation Center
- Our Lady of Lourdes — Elmira's newest parish, founded 1940; church 1941; relegated Nov. 2021
- Nov. 15, 2021: Ss. Peter and Paul and Our Lady of Lourdes formally closed for worship
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Scott Kubinski, supported by Parochial Vicar Rev. Richard (Rick) Farrell and Senior Priest in Residence Rev. Walter Wainwright. Four deacons (Joseph Erway, Alberto Pacete, Paul Sartori, and George Welch) assist in ministry. The lay staff includes Matt Murray (Director of Faith Formation), Mary Montanarella (Director of Liturgy & Music), Mary Hickey (Operations & Finance), Anne Bremer (Office Manager, CASE, Volunteer Coordinator), Kristen Wisniewski (Faith Formation / Finance Admin), and Pastoral Associate Joe Keagle.
- Rev. Scott Kubinski — Pastor (ext. 103)
- Rev. Richard (Rick) Farrell — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Walter Wainwright — Senior Priest, Assisting
- Deacons Joseph Erway, Alberto Pacete, Paul Sartori, George Welch
- Matt Murray — Director of Faith Formation
- Mary Montanarella — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Mary Hickey — Operations and Finance
- Anne Bremer — Office Manager, CASE & Volunteer Coordinator
- Kristen Wisniewski — Faith Formation & Finance Admin
- Joe Keagle — Pastoral Associate
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation Center at 1010 Davis St. is the hub for parish religious education, under Director Matt Murray. Programs serve children from Pre-K through Confirmation, plus adults seeking full initiation, adult Confirmation, Scripture study, and a men's faith-sharing group. Sacramental preparation for First Penance and First Eucharist begins in second grade; Confirmation is offered in grades 8–9 and includes FIAT (Faith In Action Time) events and retreat experiences.
- Sunday School — Pre-K through Grade 8, Sundays at 9:00 AM at the Faith Formation Center
- First Penance & First Eucharist — Grade 2 (begins fall; Penance typically in December, Eucharist typically in May)
- Confirmation — Grades 8–9, with FIAT events and retreats
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (the new name for RCIA)
- OCIC — Order of Christian Initiation for Children (ages 7+)
- Adult Confirmation for baptized Catholics needing the sacrament
- Men's League (18+) — 'That Man is You' men's faith program
- Scripture Study — e.g., 'Women in the New Testament' six-week series facilitated by Deacon George and Paula Welch
- Registration: contact Matt Murray at 607-733-3484 ext. 106
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Baptism, First Penance, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral Ministry are all coordinated through the parish office. Adult and child initiation is handled through the OCIA / OCIC processes.
- Baptism — infant and adult/child (age 7+)
- First Penance & First Eucharist (Grade 2)
- Confirmation (Grades 8–9, plus adult Confirmation)
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion to the homebound and care facilities (Card Ministry, Legion of Mary)
- Funeral Ministry — Lazarus Ministry
- OCIA / OCIC for the unbaptized and uncatechized
Outreach & Social Ministry
The parish Social Ministry Committee coordinates the parish's many charitable works, including collections for the Catholic Charities Community Kitchen, the Christmas Basket Program, Mitten Trees, Coins for a Change drives (e.g., for Meals on Wheels), disaster relief, and ongoing education on public-policy issues affecting the poor and vulnerable. The parish also runs its own Food Pantry and supports more than 175 homebound or care-facility parishioners through a Card Ministry that sends greetings at birthdays, Christmas, and Easter.
- Food Pantry at 161 High Street, Elmira
- Community Kitchen volunteer support (Catholic Charities, in the former Ss. Peter and Paul parish center)
- Christmas Basket Program — 100+ families served annually
- Mitten Trees — hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for Food Pantry clients
- Coins for a Change — periodic charity collections (e.g., Meals on Wheels)
- Card Ministry — letters to 175+ homebound and care-facility parishioners
- Disaster relief appeals
- Advocacy on public-policy issues (sanctity of life, hunger programs, etc.)
Parish Groups & Devotions
Beyond the formal Faith Formation and Social Ministry programs, the parish hosts long-standing devotional and fellowship groups, including a Perpetual Adoration community, the Legion of Mary (which visits the homebound and recites the rosary weekly), the Holy Name Society (a men's devotional fellowship), Scripture Study, a Men's League, and a Funeral Luncheon hospitality team.
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (8 AM – 8 PM daily)
- Legion of Mary — weekly rosary and visits to the homebound
- Holy Name Society — monthly meetings
- Men's League (18+) — 'That Man is You'
- Scripture Study
- Divine Mercy Novena each spring
- Funeral Luncheon hosts and bakers
Councils & Leadership
Parish governance is shared with a Parish Council and a Finance Council, plus elected lay trustees. Meetings are open and parishioners are encouraged to share ideas or concerns with council members or directly with the pastor.
- Parish Council — meets third Tuesday of the month (consult bulletin)
- Finance Council — second Tuesday of the month, 6:30 PM, Faith Formation Building
- Standing Buildings & Grounds Committee (reports to Finance Council)
- Lay Trustees: James Brady and Matthew R. Griffin
Giving, Volunteering & Fundraising
Parishioners are invited to share their Time, Talent, and Treasure. The largest fundraiser is the Parish Festival; in addition there are many service roles for volunteers — hospitality ministers, bakers, funeral-luncheon hosts, card writers, drivers, and collection counters. Online giving is available through the parish's giving portal.
- Parish Festival — principal fundraiser
- Hospitality Ministers, Bakers / Dessert Ministers
- Funeral Luncheon hosts
- Card Ministry writers
- Online giving via mhnj.churchgiving.com
- Contact Anne Bremer, 607-733-3484, to volunteer
News, Bulletins & Live Stream
The parish keeps parishioners connected through a weekly bulletin (PDF on the website), an online calendar, and live-streamed Masses. The livestream is available on the parish's Facebook page and on a dedicated stream page on the website; past event videos remain accessible as well.
- Weekly Bulletin — PDF posted on the website
- Online parish calendar
- Livestream Masses via Facebook and elmiracatholic.org/stream
- YouTube channel with past event videos
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James (Jas.) McManus1872 – April 1880
First pastor of St. Mary's Parish; transferred to St. Joseph, Batavia, where he died in 1882.
- Rev. John DeSocio
Retirement helped drive the 2018 merger of Elmira's three parishes into Most Holy Name of Jesus.
- Rev. Scott Kubinski2018 – present
First pastor of the merged Parish of the Most Holy Name of Jesus; announced 2021 relegation of Ss. Peter and Paul and Our Lady of Lourdes.